Utilities: Unannounced gas load-shedding a violation of Constitution, says senator

Saeed Ghani believes that the load-shedding is part of a scheme to create unrest in the province

KARACHI: Unannounced load-shedding of gas in Karachi and other parts of Sindh was an open violation of the Constitution of Pakistan because Article 158 clearly states that the province must make full use of its natural resources to meet the needs of its people.

This was said by Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Senator Saeed Ghani while he was talking to the party's Karachi division officials at the PPP media cell on Friday.



He said that the unfavourable situation was generated to create unrest in the province especially in Karachi and the PPP would not sit idle about it. He added that the party will take up the matter on all forums, especially in the National Assembly and the Senate of Pakistan.

The senator alleged that the unannounced load-shedding was part of a plan schemed to make the people rise against the provincial administration. It is no secret that Sindh is the only province that produces above 70 per cent of the country's natural gas while the need for gas in the province revolves around 45 per cent only, he said.

He said the Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) managing director had been approached over the shortage but, despite all expressions of concerns and warnings, the SSGC has yet to resolve the problem.

According to Ghani, the PPP believes that this is a serious matter and requires immediate intervention at the federal level.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 3^rd, 2014.